Selfish Individuals Must Be Guided by Solons

In an earlier post, I wrestled mightily with the concept that the leftwing and elitist leaders cannot possibly be unaware of the economic analysis conservatives have presented regarding the crushing, monstrous cost that their centralized government approach to health care, carbon emission control and other "greater good" programs will impose on our society. These people are not (all) stupid. Their motives undoubtedly vary from naked thirst for power to the far more benign desire to help the less fortunate. Just because their "help" will do far more harm than good, bringing everyone the egalitarian outcome of greater impoverishment, does not mean they don't mean well. My problem is that I cannot comprehend how anyone could study the data from prior efforts at top-down, centralized control of the economy and not see how extraordinarily inefficient and destructive it is.

A moment of clarity hit me when I heard Glenn Beck explain that the fundamental philosophy of the leftist solons is that individuals operate in their own self-interest, which these elites define as selfish. They characterize selfish as bad, benefiting the individual at the expense of others (the static piece-of-the-pie view of the economy). Hence the need for an elite and altruistic governing entity to redirect resources more "fairly" than would result from individuals deploying what they earn as they see fit.

Personally, I believe there is some willful ignorance going on here. This "greater good" philosophy suits the needs of the elitists, allowing them to rationalize seizing control of citizens' wealth and autonomy, thereby becoming wealthy and powerful themselves.